Improvement in grain-binders



6 Sheets-Sheet 1.

E. R. WHITNEY.

Grain-Binder. No. 206,846. Patented Aug. 6,1878.

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6 Sheets-Sheet 2. A I E. R. WHITNEY.

Grain-Binder.

No. 206,846 Patented Aug. 6,1878.

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E. R. WHITNEY. Graln-Bmder No. 206,846. Patented Aug. 6,1878.

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N. PETERS, PHOTO LITHOGRAPHE GSheets-Sheet 4.

E. R. WHITNEY.

Grain-Binder,

No. 206,846. Patented Aug. 6,1878.

N.PETER5. PHOTo-LITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON, D O

6 Shee ts$heet 5.

E. R. WHITNEY. Grain-Binder. No. 206,846. Patented Aug. 6,1878.

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WZ QS N4 PEIERS, FHoTo-H GRAMER, WASHINGTON D C 6 Sheets-Sheet 6. E. R.WHITNEY. Grain-Binder. No 206,846. Patented Aug. 6,1878.

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N PETERS, FHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER, WASNINGYON, D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWIN R. WHITNEY, OF MAGOG, QUEBEC, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF HIS RIGHT TOANGUS MOKAY AND CHARLES LUCIEN BOSSE, OF MONT- REAL, CANADA.

IMPROVEMENT IN GRAlN-BINDERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 206,846, dated August6, 1878; application filed February 16, 1878.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWIN RUTHVEN WHIT- NEY, of the village of Magog, inthe county of Stanstead and Province of Quebec, Canada, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Grain-Binders and I do herebydeclare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description ofthe same.

The object of my invention is to produce a binder in which the elevatorrequired in all the machines now in use to raise the gavel to thebinding apparatus is dispensed with, and the whole mechanism arranged ator about the level of the platform, another desideratum sought beingthat the whole machine, with the binder, shall not present a greaterfront than any of the well-known types of reaping-machines.

Itsprincipalfeatures may be thus described: In rear of thedriving-wheels of the reaper, at the level of the platform and on itsdelivery side, is placed a frame (suitably supported at its rear end)carrying rollers slightly inclined upward toward the back, over whichruns an endless belt or apron, moving in the line of delivery andactuated automatically, the distance moved being, at the will of thedriver, varied according to the length of straw of the grain to bebound. Across this belt, and at right angles to the line of itsmovement, runs back and forth a carrier, bunching the grain deposited onthe apron, bringing it up to the binding apparatus proper, and pressingit up against the binding wire or cord, which is held loosely betweenthe needle-arm and suitable holders below.

The needle-arm, which is actuated by a rockshaft, and is pivoted theretoin such a manner as not to describe in its movement a regular segment ofa circle, is then set in motion, taking the wire round the sheaf andlaying the end between the holders above mentioned placed below thetwisters, these being so arranged that the wire or cord comes exactly infront of a slot in the twister proper, into which it is pushed by adevice for that purpose, also operating to cut off the ragged twistedend of the wire. The pierced or bored pinion, which constitutes thetwister, is then rotated till the wire is sufliciently wound, and isthen looked in place, the band being then cut off from the wire-roll bya suitable knife or cutter.

The whole of these difl'erent mechanisms are so constructed and timed asto work in proper sequence in performing the several operations requiredto bind the gavel into a sheaf. The several movements are also positiveand direct, no springs being used to return the different parts to theirnormal positions after having performed their functions.

For fuller comprehension, however, of my invention, reference must behad to the an nexed drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a general plan ofthe binder with cover and needle-arm removed. Fig. 2 is a plan ofmechanism for operating apron. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of same. Fig.4 is a detail of pawl. Fig. 5 is a plan of mechanism operatinggrain-carrier. Fig. 6 is a rear View of same. Fig. 7 is a part sideelevation of machine, showing needle-bar, &c. Fig. 8 is a part plan viewof sai Fig. 9 is a plan of mechanism for oper ing needle-bar, twister,&c. Fig. 10 is a f ont elevation of same. Fig. 1.1 is a sectionallevation of twister. Fig. 12 is a plan of he l'ers and forked lever.Fig. 13 is a side view of same.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts.

A is the frame of the machine, secured to the reaper, as beforementioned, in rear of the driving-wheels by any suitable bolt orfastenin g, and may be also attached to the platform so as to fitclosely against its delivery side. The rear end of this frame is carriedby any suitable wheels, and contains the binding apparatus proper, whichis separated by a crosspiece, A, from the space occupied by an endlessbelt or apron, A revolving, at right angles to the line of traction, onrollers A inclined upward toward their rear ends, to one of which motionis given, as will be presently described. Upon this apron, the width ofwhich will equal that of the delivery side of the platform, are securedany desired number of slats or projections, a.

A is a shaft running through the apron A connected at its forward endwith the reaper,

to which the apparatus is attached and rotated from any going part ofits machinery. This shaft, by means of bevel-gears or their equivalent,rotates the vertical main shaft B, carried in any suitable frame orbearings, from which the whole binding apparatus receives motion. Uponthis shaft is keyed a pinion, B, intermeshing with a wheel, ('3', alsokeyed onto a vertical shaft, t. In this gear is fixed, as shown,a pin,0, proiccting both above and below it, the upper end of which acts upona bent lever, 1), of the form shown in Figs. 1, 2, and It, pivoted at(I. having in its forward end a slot, 1), and with groove formed, whereshown at d, in its under side, to allow of the passage through it of thepin 0. On this point (I is pivoted a lever, 1), connected at its outerend to a rod, 1), led to the drivers seat, under his control, andsecured in any desired position by a suitable locking device. To theinner end of this lever D is pivoted a link, I), adjustably connected bymeans of a pin, D", with the slotted end I) of the lever 11, and aslotted arm, l), pivoi'ed to the spindle l) and clipping the periphcryof the gear-wheel E, on the underside of which is formed a ratchet, 1 inwhich intermeshes a weighted pawl, 1), (shown in detail in Fig. 4,)pivoted to the under side of the arm I). l'pon this spindle I5 ismounted a bevelgear, E, intermeshin g with another gear, E mounted on aeounter'shaft, 1. which, by suitable gears, impartsa rotary motion tothe outer roller, A, of the apron A I will now proceed to describe themechanism by which the grain is brought up to the binder, as shown moreparticularly in Figs. 1, 5, 6, 7,and 8. Upon a spindle, E", placed whereshown, is mounted loosely a crank, 1, composed of two arms,f f"; andupon the spindle G of the gear-wheel (l is firmly fixed anotherbell-crank, I, similarly formed of arms f f, the ends of the armsf fbeing connected by a bar, F curved, if required, as in this case. Thewheel (l is arranged to communicate, through a series of gears arrangedin the or dinary way, motion at any increased rate of speed to abevel-pinion, G intermcshing with another pinion, G mounted on a shaft,(l rotating through suitable gears the shaft 11, passing through theframe A, and having mounted upon its ends pitclrchain wheels ll, overwhich run chain-belts 1P, passing over similar wheels at the forward endof the frame A. Upon these belts I1 is secured the graincarrier I, ofthe form shown in Figs. 1, 7, and 8, having formed in its lower bar,from which the teeth spring, a set, as at I, toes 1 projecting downwardfrom each prong close to the level of the slats a.

If desired, guides ofany kind may be formed on the sides of the frame Ato prevent lateral movement of the carrier; and it may, in some cases,be made to set loosely upon standards secured on the belts H so as toenable it to rise.

The mechanism for operating the arm carshaft I. carried in suitablebearin s I on. 7 7 b 7 this being mounted a lever, L connectedadjustably (both vertically and horizontally) by a link, L to a lever,L, keyed onto a rockshaft, M, carried in proper bearings raised abovethe apparatus and imparting motion thereto. To this rock-shaft aresecured rigidly arms M, in which are formed bearings for the spindle ot'the reel M carrying the wire, and from which it is taken, throughsuitable eyes it, along the curved arm or needle/bar N to its point,made in the usual way in which similar arms are formed on other binders.The rear end )1 of this needle-bar is attached by a pivot to a curvedbrace or link, 0, pivoted at its other end to curved arm, 0, carried outfrom the frame of the machine. The binding arm or needle-bar N is alsopivoted, where shown at N to a curved arm, 0 keyed onto the rockshaft M,and moving with it, and is furtherprovided with a stay or brace, piv'oted at both ends, as shown in the drawings, to stiffen it.

The apparatus for holding and twisting the wire passed round the sheafis shown in Figs. o, 10, 1], 1:3, and 13, and is as follows: Upon theshaft t, rotated as before described, is mounted a disk, carrying a pin,0", which, as the disk revolves, strikes against and passes through agrooved lug, P, secured to a lever, l, pivoted at p to any suitable studor part of the frame, this lever ending in two arms, 1 1", of theconfiguration shown in Fig. 12, the former having at its end acuttingedge, and both being bent so as to pass freely under the holdersQ, (shown in Figs. 10, 12, and 13,) the fork 1 moving in a guide, Q,formed 011 the under side of these. The opening between these holderswill be exactly in a vertical line with that of the twister properabove, when this is locked in place.

This twister is shown in Figs 1, 9, 10, and 11, and is formed by boringout or casting in that shape a small pinion, R, and placing in orsecuring to the bottom a plate, R, the whole being carried in a frame,S, which is, as at S, formed so as to give access to the slot R cut inthe side and bottom of the twister, and into which the wire or cord isset.

If desired, the bottom plate B may be made in one with the twisterproper R.

The twister receives its motion as will now be described: Upon the.shaft K (rotated, as before described, by pitEh chains and wheels fromthe shaft 0) is keyed a wheel, T, having a portion, T, of its peripherytoothed so as to intermesh intermittent] y with a gear-wheel, B

mounted loosely on the main shaft B, but keyed to and revolving anothergear, B which intermeshes with and rotates the twister.

U is a bow-spring, secured in any suitable position and having formed onits upper side a lug, U, which fits into a corresponding openmg orgroove in the wheel B and upon the under side of the wheel T is formed acam, T having one end splayed off, so as to slide onto a proj ection, Uon the upper side of the spring and hold it down, thus releasing thewheel B and allowing it to rotate, motion being imparted to it, in thefirst instance, by means of a lug, T formed on the under side of thewheel T, and striking against a projection, T cast on the under side ofB W is a lever, pivoted at w to the frame S, and having on its inner enda cutting-edge to sever the wire when twisted, this lever being of theform shownin Fig. 9, with a bend,W, and return-bend W, the former onebeing grooved, as at W to allow of the passage through it of the pin Tby which it is operated.

By increasing the time of rotation of the twister and slightly alteringthe construction of the holders, so as to give a longer twisted end, myapparatus will serve equally well where cord is used instead of wire forthe binding material.

The whole of the operating part of the machine is provided with a cover,to prevent the machinery from becoming clogged with straw,

dirt, 850.

The manner in which the several devices which form the whole bindingapparatus work is as follows, the description following the sequence oftheir operation.

The gear-wheel B on the main shaft B rotates the gear-wheel 0 carryingthe pin 0, which, striking the lever D, throws over in the oppositedirection its forward end, and communicates a corresponding motion tothe arm D through its connection therewith by the pin D passing throughit and the slot D. To this arm D is pivoted the weighted pawl D", which,striking into the ratchet E turns the wheel E a distance correspondingto the throw of the lever, thus rotating the roller A and with it theapron A, the intermediate gearing being so timed that the full throw ofthe lever D shall rotate the roller A sulficiently to cause the apron Ato move about the distance between the rollers.

The driver can, however, by means of the rod D, so act upon the link Dthrough the lever D as to move the pivot-point D, at the junction of thelever D and arm D farther from or nearer to the pivot E of this arm Dand thus, as this point will move, when acted upon, in a larger orsmaller circle, regulate the length of throw of the lever D, andconsequently the distance moved by the apron, so as to accommodate theapparatus to grain with short straw.

All these motions, .re accomplished while the pin 0 is pressing againstthe transverse portion of the lever D; but as soon as this is done, themovement of the levers D and D and arm D is reversed, (the pawl passingbackward over the ratchet E and the parts restored to their formerpositions by the pin 0, which, passing through the groove d and comingin contact with the curved end of the lever D, throws it over.

The grain having been, by the action just described, carried from theplatform of the reaper and laid evenly upon the surface of the apron Athe devices which carry the gavel to the binding apparatus proper, andwhich are timed to act at this juncture, come into operation as follows:

The pin 0 on the pinion 0 immediately after operating upon the rear endof the lever D to restore it and the parts connected therewith to theirprior positions, comes in contact with the arm f of the crank F which,through the bar F pushing forward the lower arm, f, of the lever F,brings the other arm, f, within the course of the pin 0, at thesame timerotating the shaft G, and with it the gear G, for any given proportionof its revolution. This gear-wheel G turns, through the other gears, thebevels G2 G at a higher rate of speed. These, imparting motion to theshaft G rotate the shaft H at such speed that the initial motion givento the gear G will, through the intermediate mechanism, cause thepitch-chain wheels H to revolve sufficiently to cause thegrain-carrier'I to advance the whole length of the apron, gathering upthe grain and forcing it into the bight of the wire held between theneedle-arm and the holders. The operation, presently to be described, ofpassing the wire round the sheaf and fastening it, is then performed,the sheaf being meanwhile held in place by the carrier I.

By this time the revolution of the pinion O has brought the pin a roundto where the arm f of the crank F lies in its course, and this, beingstruck by the pin, turns back the arm f and with it the bar F and crankF to their first positions, thus entirely reversing the previous action,and rotating the pinion G and with it the pitch-chain wheels B, so as torun the carrier I back to the forward end of the apron A leaving itclear for a fresh supply of grain; and in this juncture itmaybementioned that only every alternate or third rake may be arrangedto sweep the platform, so as to allow time for the binding to beperformed.

The gavel having been, as just mentioned, pressed by the carrier I upagainst the wire held loosely between the end of the needlebar or wirearm N and the holders Q, (being retained between the latter by thetwisted end remaining from the sheaf previously bound,) enough wire runsoff the reel M to give bight sufficient to encircle the sheaf. At thismoment the revolution of the cam-wheel K will cause the arm L to rise inthe groove is, thus, through the rock-shaft L, lever L and link Lpulling down the outer end of the lever L and partially turning therock-shaft M in that direetion, by this means lowering the needlearm Nto the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7, the curve described byit in its course being governed by the double arrangement of itspivoting, (i. 0., to the curved arm keyed on the rock-shaft M, and bythe curved brace O to the projecting arm 0 and is such as to keep thepoint close into the gavel, aml pre vent an overplus of wire being drawnoff the reel; and, further, to obviate any chance of the wire beingtaken around the carrier as well as the sheaf, the set I in the lowerbar of the grain-carrier also assisting in this.

The position of the point of the needle at the end of the stroke of thearm N is such as to bring the wire which has passed round the sheaf intothe opening between the holders Q, where it is at once acted upon by thearm 1 of the lever l, actuated by the pin U pressing against the lug 1,which pushes it in still farther, causing it to enter the slot It in thetwister It, and the pin then'passing through the inclined groove in thelug 1" gives it a positive reverse motion, actuating the arm I, whichbyits cuttingedge,removes from below the holder the twisted end of wire.The mechanism for revolving the twister is turned to operate at thisjuncture, the revolution of the gear-wheel T causing the cam T to pressdown the bow-sprin g I, thus leaving the gear-wheel B and with it thepinion 13-, intermeshing with and rotating the twister, free to revolve,motion being imparted thereto first by the lug T striking againsttheprojection Ton the under side of B and starting it, thus avoiding anychance of breaking the gear-teeth, the rotary motion being continued bythe segment T which is of such length as to turn the twister R asutiicient number of times to give a perfect fastening to the wire orcord.

The motion is stopped at the moment when the slot R of the twister isexactly behind the opening S in the frame and above the space betweenthe holders Q, the wire bound round the sheaf being then, by thecutting-edge of the lever \V, severed from the part held between theholders and close below the twister, leaving a short piece of thetwisted end above the holders, so as to prevent the wire from beingdrawn through them when the needlebar rises. This lever W is operated bythe pin T pressing on the bend \V', the lever being returned to itsnormal position by the action of this pin T passing through the groove Wand acting on the inner side of the return piece The sheaf being thuscompletely bound, the needle-arm N, operated by the reverse movementofthc parts actuating it, rises, leaving, as before, the length of wirebetween its point and the holders. The several operations just describedare now repeated in the foregoing order, each sheaf being pushed towardthe rear of the machine and out over ways, which may be provided for itat the back, by the one following it.

hat I claim is as follows:

1. In a low level grain-binder, the combination, with the bindingapparatus proper, of an endless belt or apron, operated automatically bypositive lever motion, to be moved intermittingly in a directionparallel or coinciding with the length of the gavel as it lies upon thebelt, and taking the grain'froin the deliveryplatform, substantially asset forth.

2. In combination with a lever acted upon positively and automaticallyto give, through a pivoted pawl-and-ratehet-gear wheel, motion to thegears and rollers working the apron A a lever controlled by the driverand operating to vary the throw of the actuating-lever, and thusdiminish or increase the distance traveled by the apron, allsubstantially as herein set forth.

3. In an automatic grain-binder, the combination, with the travelingbelt or apron, of

a grainearrier traversing it at right angles back and forth, andoperated in either direction by a positive lever motion, substantiallyas and for the purposes set forth.

4. The grain-carrier I, with set I formed on its lower bar, and toes Iprojecting from the prongs, as and for the purposes set forth.

5. The combination of the ca1n-wheel K constructed as shown, lever Loperated by the same, link L arm L, and rock-shaft M, substantially asand for the purposes herein set forth.

6. In a low level automatic grain-binder, the forked lever I, operatedpositively in either direction by the lug 0-", mounted on the revolvingdisk and working against and through the grooved lug I" on the lever, incombination with the twister and the jaws or holders below it,substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

7. The combination of the twister, the pinion B, the gear-wheel B havingradial projection T on its under side, the wheel T, with lug T, and thetoothed segment T all substantially as and for the purposes herein setforth.

8. The combination, with the grooved gearwheel 13 through which motionis imparted to the twister of spring U, holding the latter stationary,provided with lug U, fitting into wheel 13 and lug U acted upon by camT, mounted on and revolving with shaft K, all constructed substantiallyin the manner set forth, and for the purposes described.

9. The combination of the wheel T, having toothed portion T cam T andlug T, the loose gear-wheel 13 grooved, as described, and provided withprojection T the gearwheel B, twister It, and bow-spring U, having lugsor projections U U all constructed substantially as and for the purposesherein set forth.

I). It. \VIl ITN I Y.

\Yitnesses:

Axui's MtKAv, Flt/is. llv. REYNOLDS.

